Soil organic matter dynamics and its relation to the environment: molecular chemistry (pyrolysis-GC/MS) to understand soil formation in tropical soils

• Grant number: 14/23969-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2015
• End date: July 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Pablo Vidal Torrado
• Grantee: Pablo Vidal Torrado
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Judith Schellekens

Abstract

In order to understand the effects of anthropogenic carbon emissions and their consequences for climate change, knowledge of past climate is essential as well as the responses of natural ecosystems to a changing climate. The controls on decomposition are a key factor in our understanding of the relationship between SOM and climate. However, the factors that determine carbon stability in soils and its relation to soil formation are still not well understood. Accordingly, it is important to understand the mechanisms of SOM stability, bothto develop climate proxies and to predict how soils react on environmental change, whether caused by climate or management practices. In addition, such understanding is fundamental for the agricultural function of soils and its fertility. In order to understand the stability of organic matter in tropical soils, our focus is on Brazilian soils with high carbon content or enriched with this element by pedogenic processes . These include Pleistocene and Holocene oligotrophic peatlands (Minas Gerais State), Latosolos Húmicos (Humox) under Cerrado vegetation (Minas Gerais State), Terra Preta de Índio under tropical forest (Amazonia state) and Sombric horizons (States of Paraná and Santa Catarina).This project aims to understand and unravel the processes that influence soil organic matter dynamics in these soils, using molecular chemistry (pyrolysis-GC/MS). Molecular chemistry provides information about the sources of SOM as well as post depositional processes such the effect of fire and decay. The molecular chemistry will be supported by other methods including physical and chemical analysis, micromorphology, and 14C dating. Understanding these processes will provide key information for climate modelling studies as well as agricultural management. (AU)

Scientific publications

(9)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CHIAPINI, MARIANE; SCHELLEKENS, JUDITH; CALEGARI, MARCIA REGINA; DE ALMEIDA, JAIME ANTONIO; BUURMAN, PETER; DE CAMARGO, PLINIO BARBOSA; VIDAL-TORRADO, PABLO. Formation of black carbon rich `sombric' horizons in the subsoil - A case study from subtropical Brazil. Geoderma, v. 314, p. 232-244, MAR 15 2018. (13/03953-9, 15/03577-2, 14/23969-0)

SCHELLEKENS, JUDITH; ALMEIDA-SANTOS, TAIS; MACEDO, RODRIGO SANTANA; BUURMAN, PETER; KUYPER, THOMAS W.; VIDAL-TORRADO, PABLO. Molecular composition of several soil organic matter fractions from anthropogenic black soils (Terra Preta de Indio) in Amazonia - A pyrolysis-GC/MS study. Geoderma, v. 288, p. 154-165, FEB 15 2017. (13/03953-9, 14/23969-0)

JUSTI, MARINA; SCHELLEKENS, JUDITH; DE CAMARGO, PLINIO BARBOSA; VIDAL-TORRADO, PABLO. Long-term degradation effect on the molecular composition of black carbon in Brazilian Cerrado soils. Organic Geochemistry, v. 113, p. 196-209, NOV 2017. (13/03953-9, 14/21128-8, 14/23969-0)

CHIAPINI, MARIANE; SCHELLEKENS, JUDITH; CALEGARI, MARCIA REGINA; DE ALMEIDA, JAIME ANTONIO; BUURMAN, PETER; DE CAMARGO, PLINIO BARBOSA; VIDAL-TORRADO, PABLO. Formation of black carbon rich 'sombric' horizons in the subsoil - A case study from subtropical Brazil. Geoderma, v. 314, p. 13-pg., 2018-03-15. (13/03953-9, 15/03577-2, 14/23969-0)

MARIANE CHIAPINI; JAIRO CALDERARI DE OLIVEIRA JUNIOR; JUDITH SCHELLEKENS; JAIME ANTONIO DE ALMEIDA; PETER BUURMAN; PABLO VIDAL-TORRADO. Sombric-like horizon and xanthization in polychrome subtropical soils from Southern Brazil: implications for soil classification. Scientia Agricola, v. 78, n. 4, 2020-07-08. (13/03953-9, 15/03577-2, 14/23969-0)

LOPES-MAZZETTO, JOSIANE MILLANI; BUURMAN, PETER; SCHELLEKENS, JUDITH; RODRIGUES DE MORAES MARTINEZ, PEDRO HENRIQUE; VIDAL-TORRADO, PABLO. Soil morphology related to hydrology and degradation in tropical coastal podzols (SE Brazil). CATENA, v. 162, p. 1-13, MAR 2018. (12/22405-0, 12/04178-6, 14/23969-0)

LOPES-MAZZETTO, JOSIANE MILLANI; SCHELLEKENS, JUDITH; VIDAL-TORRADO, PABLO; BUURMAN, PETER. Impact of drainage and soil hydrology on sources and degradation of organic matter in tropical coastal podzols. Geoderma, v. 330, p. 79-90, NOV 15 2018. (12/22405-0, 13/03953-9, 14/23969-0)

SCHELLEKENS, JUDITH; JUSTI, MARINA; MACEDO, RODRIGO; CALEGARI, MARCIA REGINA; BUURMAN, PETER; KUYPER, THOMAS W.; DE CAMARGO, PLINIO BARBOSA; VIDAL-TORRADO, PABLO. Long-term carbon storage in Brazilian Cerrado soils - a conjunction of wildfires, bioturbation, and local edaphic controls on vegetation. PLANT AND SOIL, v. N/A, p. 18-pg., 2022-12-07. (14/23969-0, 14/21128-8, 13/03953-9)

CHIAPINI, MARIANE; DE OLIVEIRA JUNIOR, JAIRO CALDERARI; SCHELLEKENS, JUDITH; DE ALMEIDA, JAIME ANTONIO; BUURMAN, PETER; VIDAL-TORRADO, PABLO. Sombric-like horizon and xanthization in polychrome subtropical soils from Southern Brazil: implications for soil classification. CIENTIA AGRICOL, v. 78, n. 4, p. 13-pg., 2021-01-01. (13/03953-9, 15/03577-2, 14/23969-0)